Three dual occupancies approved for Department

Gosford Council has approved the development of dual occupancies by the Department of Housing in Grafton Ave and Hillview St, Woy Woy.

The three single houses are located at 8 and 10 Grafton Ave, as well as 33 Nambucca Dr, Woy Woy.

The application to redevelop the houses was deferred in July while the Council contacted the Department of Housing about their overall plans for the area.

The Department of Housing replied to the Council that there was "no overall plan for the Woy Woy area".

They cited reasons for no such plan as being "uncertainty of funding" with a Federal election looming and the availability of properties.

"The only way to make properties available for redevelopment is to induce residents to accept another dwelling," the letter from the department stated.

"It is also worth emphasising that Council has no legal powers to take these matters into account."

At the meeting, councillors voted down a motion by Cr Terri Latella to defer a decision so that discussions about implementing a strategy could be held with the department.

Only Crs Craig Doyle and Chris Holstein supported the motion.

The council approved the development applications and resolved to meet with the department to ascertain their long-term plans in the vicinity.

Cr Terri Latella said she wanted an overall strategy for the entire department of housing re-development at Woy Woy.

She said she did not believe ascertaining the department's plan was "sufficient to gain the appropriate infrastructure desperately needed in this area before any growth begins".

"This type of development shows that the Department is not taking our urgent plea for affordable housing seriously and is removing some of the autonomy that we deserve as a region," she said.

Speaking for Cr Latella's motion, Cr Chris Holstein said there were about 75 Department of Housing houses in the area.

"No one Councillor would argue against the need for affordable housing, but you cannot tell me the Department doesn't have a strategy for down there.

"What is the social infrastructure?

"This is the tyranny of the small decision.

"If we're only going to do small sections here and there. It will be three here, four there, five there.

"We owe it to the Peninsula to ensure that development that happens down there is socially appropriate.

"The department needs to own up and give us a strategy for the area.

"If they come up and say we're only doing three then that's fine."

Cr Peter Hale disagreed citing the lack of approvals made by Council.

"We spend so much time about affordable housing and we have a complying DA here.

"I just can't understand what we're doing as a Council."

Cr Vicki Scott echoed his statements.

"This is emotional scare tactics.

"While we're mucking around here, people are going without a home.

"I don't see why we can't do this."

Council approved the developments.

There were 36 public submissions made about the development application.

Alison Branley, August 5